Visualizing a 21st Century Classroom Design

Problem-based learning, makerspaces, flipped learning, student blogging -- these are becoming perceived staples of 21st-century learning. With such ambitious practices taking the spotlight for how people regard modern classrooms, it's not surprising that a murmur of impracticality or skepticism is still a frequent response when they're first introduced. Here are five elements of 21st-century classrooms, along with concrete suggestions that teachers can visualize and implement today.

Element #1: Zones 21st-Century Learning Principle

Instead of requiring students to learn, work, and think in one place all day, consider how your space might become more flexible.

Practical Steps

Designate a whole-group special gathering zone (class meetings, wrap-ups, mini-lessons) by laying a second-hand rug or taping down a perimeter -- even for older students!

Maximize space by having your desk do double-duty with the kidney desk, but maintain office space with shelves on the wall behind you.

Get creative with the student workspace zone by providing spaces for working as individuals, pairs, and groups.

Add casters to chairs, and top individual desks with plywood for flexible group tables.

Arrange furniture to create nooks.

Element #2: Accessibility 21st-Century Learning Principle

To walk the talk of a real classroom community, we must ask ourselves if all of our resources are designed and arranged for the convenience of all learners.

Practical Steps

Ask your students for feedback on how they use and would like to use classroom resources.

Ask your administration's permission to have the custodian adjust the height of bulletin boards, whiteboards, hooks, and anything else that isn't as functional as it could be.

Element #3: Mobility 21st-Century Learning Principle

We need to be sure that we're not catering to just one type of learner. Be mindful of your introverts, extroverts, collaborators, solo thinkers, writers, dreamers, and fidgeters -- and design a flexible environment that can meet everyone's needs.

Practical Steps

Create a tech station to allow students more choices in how to research, practice, and present learning. Don't have 1:1 or even 30:1? Start today by submitting a DonorsChoose project requesting a tablet or laptop. Chromebooks are under $200 and iPad Minis under $300. Then, immediately install an arsenal of apps or Chrome apps to help preclude the all-too-common "what do I do with these devices?" dilemma.

The abovementioned casters will help your students easily roll their chairs away if they need to work solo for a bit, or to collaborate with multiple people around the classroom. Add a clipboard, and voila -- a budget-friendly version of the Node chair.

Element #4: Inspiration 21st-Century Learning Principle

We often expect students to passively wait until we present opportunities to create, and then we expect them to turn on that creativity like a faucet. We should find ways to foster ongoing inspiration and creativity.

Explicitly teach and emphasize process over product, growth mindset, and metacognition. We cannot cultivate risk taking, failing, and perseverance -- all essential characteristics of creativity -- if we repeatedly demonstrate to students how all that really matters is neatly filling out our worksheets.

Element #5: Respect 21st-Century Learning Principle

Consider our students who don't do school very well. You know the ones -- the kid who rarely earns stars and class bucks, the kid who never brings homework, the kid whose name is called far more frequently than others. For them, traditional school quickly becomes a game of "me vs. the teacher." For their sake, we must find ways to dissolve this mindset, replacing it with the real reason why we're all at school -- genuine learning and growth.

Practical Steps

Carefully examine your reward systems and ask yourself: "Do they perpetuate or lessen the perceived game of student vs. teacher?" Take steps to minimize extrinsic rewards that often do nothing but reinforce to struggling students the futility of their efforts.

Focus on your one-on-one relationship with each student. Greet them at the door, ask them about their interests, and listen.

Fiercely safeguard time for end-of-lesson wrap-ups and reflections. Those moments are the perfect opportunity to highlight the conversation of ownership. After all, this is about student learning. Model and let them learn from others how individuals make learning personal and genuinely apply it to their lives.

What small changes can you visualize in your room today?

MIDLANDS SUMMIT REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Richland School District Two's SC Midlands Summit featuring Google for Education is scheduled for June 8-9, 2016! The SC Midlands Summit is a two day conference focused on Leveling Up technology integration in the classroom. Over 100 unique sessions will be offered! We have a great lineup of featured speakers on hand to share their expertise with us. Amy Burval, Margaret Powers, Kasey Bell, Lee Green, Brad Fountain, and Michael Jaber, are all confirmed presenters!

Please let K.Barber know if you would like to attend! Any staff member is welcome! This is a wonderful professional development opportunity! We will register as a school once all staff members interested have notified us of their desire to attend!

Project Based Learning opportunity!

The Buck Institute has been working with our district for 2 years, focused on Project Based Learning. This summer is the last year they will serve our district and we would love to take advantage of this professional development! Please let me know if you are interested in Project Based Learning training with the BUCK INSTITUTE. Many school staffs have already attended this training. They were very complimentary of the year long support the Buck Institute provided.

Interested in this training? Please let K.Barber know as soon as you can! Dates and times are being determined now.

Congratulations to Mrs. Perez!

Our very own Lindsey was married over Spring Break! It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for her and her new marriage!

MIDLANDS SUMMIT REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Richland School District Two's SC Midlands Summit featuring Google for Education is scheduled for June 8-9, 2016! The SC Midlands Summit is a two day conference focused on Leveling Up technology integration in the classroom. Over 100 unique sessions will be offered! We have a great lineup of featured speakers on hand to share their expertise with us. Amy Burval, Margaret Powers, Kasey Bell, Lee Green, Brad Fountain, and Michael Jaber, are all confirmed presenters!

Please let K.Barber know if you would like to attend! Any staff member is welcome! This is a wonderful professional development opportunity! We will register as a school once all staff members interested have notified us of their desire to attend!

Project Based Learning opportunity!

The Buck Institute has been working with our district for 2 years, focused on Project Based Learning. This summer is the last year they will serve our district and we would love to take advantage of this professional development! Please let me know if you are interested in Project Based Learning training with the BUCK INSTITUTE. Many school staffs have already attended this training. They were very complimentary of the year long support the Buck Institute provided.

Interested in this training? Please let K.Barber know as soon as you can! Dates and times are being determined now.

Congratulations to Mrs. Perez!

Our very own Lindsey was married over Spring Break! It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for her and her new marriage!

A LOOK AT OUR WEEK AHEAD!

Have you completed our school climate survey? Please do so this week if you haven't!

MONDAY: C Day

3:30pm Team Leaders meeting in media center

Please store grades before you leave for the afternoon!

TUESDAY: D Day

No School Events scheduled

WEDNESDAY: E Day

3:30pm K.Williams baby shower

THURSDAY: F Day

Report cards distributed

3:30pm Jennifer Grosse wedding shower

6:30pm PTO meeting

FRIDAY: A Day

2nd grade field study

College Colors Day

1:45pm Montessori community meeting

RELAY FOR LIFE..........Pontiac is still in need of a team captain!

Pontiac Elementary is one of the few schools in the district that hasn't formed a team yet for our community's Relay for Life 2016 event. Our staff did a great job in 2015 with very limited time. Please let K.Barber know if you are willing to serve as our Team Captain and lead this campaign for our school and community.

EARLY BIRDS NEEDS YOU!

Are you an EARLY BIRD? We have a position to fill in our Early Birds program. This program welcomes students that arrive early, beginning at 6:30am. Supervision is with approximately 15 kids in a space. Please let K.Barber know if you are interested in filling this position for us for the remainder of the school year.